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| Curtailment of 30,000 student visas each year sparks row | Curtailment of 30,000 student visas each year sparks row |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| More than 30,000 non-EU students a year have had their visas curtailed by the Home Office in the past three years, figures obtained by BBC News show. | More than 30,000 non-EU students a year have had their visas curtailed by the Home Office in the past three years, figures obtained by BBC News show. |
| And 410 educational establishments had their licences to sponsor international students revoked in the same period. | And 410 educational establishments had their licences to sponsor international students revoked in the same period. |
| The Home Office said it was cracking down on immigration abuse. | The Home Office said it was cracking down on immigration abuse. |
| But the National Union of Students said international students were being "scapegoated" in order to meet targets on net migration. | But the National Union of Students said international students were being "scapegoated" in order to meet targets on net migration. |
| The Home Office count incoming and departing international students when setting its targets on net migration, despite fears from some leading politicians that this risks harming UK universities. | The Home Office count incoming and departing international students when setting its targets on net migration, despite fears from some leading politicians that this risks harming UK universities. |
| The figures, released by the Home Office under Freedom of Information rules, show 99,635 students had their visas curtailed in the three years to the end of December 2015: | The figures, released by the Home Office under Freedom of Information rules, show 99,635 students had their visas curtailed in the three years to the end of December 2015: |
| Of the educational establishments that lost their licences, there were | Of the educational establishments that lost their licences, there were |
| Some later had their licences reinstated - but, overall, the number of establishments holding them fell from 1,706 in 2013 to 1,405 by the end of last year. | Some later had their licences reinstated - but, overall, the number of establishments holding them fell from 1,706 in 2013 to 1,405 by the end of last year. |
| 'Immigration abuse' | 'Immigration abuse' |
| In its response to the BBC's Freedom of Information request, the Home Office said it was unable to provide specific details of the types of institutions that had lost their licences. | In its response to the BBC's Freedom of Information request, the Home Office said it was unable to provide specific details of the types of institutions that had lost their licences. |
| But, in a statement, it said the revocations had been focused on "poor quality institutions". | But, in a statement, it said the revocations had been focused on "poor quality institutions". |
| During the period, no universities had their licences revoked - though a few had them temporarily suspended. | During the period, no universities had their licences revoked - though a few had them temporarily suspended. |
| A Home Office spokesman said, since 2010, it had "cracked down on immigration abuse from poor quality institutions which were damaging the UK's reputation as a provider of world-class education, whilst maintaining a highly competitive offer for international students who wish to study at our world-leading institutions". | A Home Office spokesman said, since 2010, it had "cracked down on immigration abuse from poor quality institutions which were damaging the UK's reputation as a provider of world-class education, whilst maintaining a highly competitive offer for international students who wish to study at our world-leading institutions". |
| He said the strategy was working. | He said the strategy was working. |
| "Visa applications from international students to study at British universities are up by 17% since 2010, whilst visa applications to our elite Russell Group universities up by 39%," he said. | "Visa applications from international students to study at British universities are up by 17% since 2010, whilst visa applications to our elite Russell Group universities up by 39%," he said. |
| "We will continue to reform the student visa system to tackle abuse and deliver an effective immigration system that works in the national interest." | "We will continue to reform the student visa system to tackle abuse and deliver an effective immigration system that works in the national interest." |
| Where leave to remain is curtailed, individuals are given 60 working days' notice and "are encouraged to depart voluntarily", according to the spokesman. | |
| "It they fail to do so enforcement action can be taken," he added. | "It they fail to do so enforcement action can be taken," he added. |
| 'Draconian' | 'Draconian' |
| But Dominic Scott, chief executive of the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), said: "If these figures are correct, then they show that the Home Office's action against students has been even more draconian than previously understood. | But Dominic Scott, chief executive of the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), said: "If these figures are correct, then they show that the Home Office's action against students has been even more draconian than previously understood. |
| "And many fear of course that it may have been more in pursuit of meeting a net migration target than addressing real abuse." | "And many fear of course that it may have been more in pursuit of meeting a net migration target than addressing real abuse." |
| NUS international students' officer Mostafa Rajaai said the "shocking" figures were "clear evidence the Home Office is following a political agenda, rather than trying to remove real cheats". | NUS international students' officer Mostafa Rajaai said the "shocking" figures were "clear evidence the Home Office is following a political agenda, rather than trying to remove real cheats". |
| "It has a clear disregard for the right to a fair trial and the past six years have seen the steady erosion of international students' rights within the UK," he said. | "It has a clear disregard for the right to a fair trial and the past six years have seen the steady erosion of international students' rights within the UK," he said. |
| Mr Rajaai quoted NUS research suggesting most non-EU students thought the government was unwelcoming towards international students. | Mr Rajaai quoted NUS research suggesting most non-EU students thought the government was unwelcoming towards international students. |
| "If the government continues to scapegoat overseas students in order to hit its immigration targets, the damage to the UK's reputation as a desirable place to study will only worsen," he said. | "If the government continues to scapegoat overseas students in order to hit its immigration targets, the damage to the UK's reputation as a desirable place to study will only worsen," he said. |
| "The only solution is for immigration targets to be scrapped completely." | "The only solution is for immigration targets to be scrapped completely." |
| According to official figures, 201,763 students applied for UK study visas last year. | According to official figures, 201,763 students applied for UK study visas last year. |
| These include: | These include: |
| According to an Office of National Statistics published in January, 192,000 international students arrived in the UK for long-term study in the year to June 2015 - down from a peak of 238,000 in 2010. | According to an Office of National Statistics published in January, 192,000 international students arrived in the UK for long-term study in the year to June 2015 - down from a peak of 238,000 in 2010. |
| Most of this fall has been in further education, says the ONS, and is due to the tightening of immigration rules. | Most of this fall has been in further education, says the ONS, and is due to the tightening of immigration rules. |